How do i clean the fabric softener dispenser in my kenmore 80 series washer? Does it come apart to clean the inside? It is full of gunk and the fabric softener won't come out.

SOURCE:Fabric Softener Won't Dispense
The fabric softener dispenser is notorious for clogging. Liquid fabric softener is essentially a liquid form of wax. After a period of time it begins to gunk up the inside of the fabric softener dispenser. If you remove the dispenser drawer and look into the cavity, there should be a series of holes in the upper part of the compartment where water sprays into all the dispenser trays. These holes get gunked up and clogged and water will not dispense properly. As a result, the washer goes through a complete cycle, but the dispenser stays full. If this is the case, you can take some cotton swabs and/or toothpicks and clean these holes real good. It may be a bit meticulous, but it should take care of the problem. Post back and let me know if this helps.

There should be pins located somewhere on the dispenser or a grey thing located inside the dispenser, push it down and that will release the dispenser from the washer. Afterwards you can put in in the dishwasher, this should clean out any clogging residue.

Check this link: Softener Removal

it does come apart it is stwited in from the bottom up . but you can soak it in some hot water and shake it it will come clean after a bit

MOST DON COME APPART SOME HAVE A BLUE RING PUT IT UP AND PULL THE SOFTERNER UP AND PUT IN THE WASHER RUN A LOUD SMALL AND HOT WATER AND LET IT CLEAN IT SELF IN THE WAHSER

the fabric softener spins out of the cup after the wash cycle when spinning the water out of clothes, then the washer fills back up for the rinse w/ your softener having been dispensed. is there a nut at the bottom of your agitator where you see the gunk? If so you can take the agitator out by removing the nut but be careful of the little parts that make the agitator agitate. Do not disturb these little parts if you don't know about them. Does the gunk smell like grease or a mechanics garage? If so chances are it is a lubricant and should not be removed replace the cap and your softener cup and continue enjoying your machine.

I've had this same problem and solved it by removing the detergent/bleach/softener dispenser drawer from the machine and seriously cleaning out all of the "gunk" from the drawer and from inside the drawer area on washer. Sometimes I have had to repeat the cleaning and then the fabric softener begins dispensing again. I have model # 417.43042200 but it may work on all the Kenmore front loading washers.

The fabric softener dispenser is notorious for clogging. Liquid fabric softener is essentially a liquid form of wax. After a period of time it begins to gunk up the inside of the fabric softener dispenser. If you remove the dispenser drawer and look into the cavity, there should be a series of holes in the upper part of the compartment where water sprays into all the dispenser trays. These holes get gunked up and clogged and water will not dispense properly. As a result, the washer goes through a complete cycle, but the dispenser stays full. If this is the case, you can take some cotton swabs and/or toothpicks and clean these holes real good. It may be a bit meticulous, but it should take care of the problem. Post back and let me know if this helps.

Fabric softener dispensers are notorious for getting all gummed up and clogged. Remove the dispenser cup and soak in some hot water to dissolve all residue. While you have the dispenser removed check under the dispenser cap in the agitator for gummy residue as well. Clean with hot water. There should also be an agitator seal cap under the dispenser. Make sure the cap and rubber o-ring are seated properly. Last of all, if the dispenser has a cone shaped cup inside, make sure it is inserted cone-side UP. The cup is designed to allow fabric softener to roll down the sides of it, NOT hold it. I hope this helps.